HIV/AIDS Myths

  • The Myth

    You can get HIV from a mosquito that has bitten a person who's infected.

    The Reality

    It has never been proved that mosquitoes carry or spread HIV.

  • The Myth

    Only gay men get HIV and AIDS. Straight men are immune from infection.

    The Reality

    Worldwide, HIV is most often spread by sex between men and women. Anyone risks getting HIV by having unprotected sex, sharing drug needles or having HIV-infected blood contact their own blood or open wounds. HIV-positive women can infect their babies through breast-feeding.

  • The Myth

    30% of HIV infections are caused by injection drug use.

    The Reality

    Up to 60% of new infections are caused by injection drug use.

  • The Myth

    If you and your lover both have HIV, you don't need to use condoms.

    The Reality

    Different people have different strains of HIV, and HIV-positive people can reinfect each other. The medicine that you take for your infection might not work against the strain your partner has.

  • The Myth

    Only gay men get HIV and AIDS. Straight men are immune from infection.

    The Reality

    Worldwide, HIV is most often spread by sex between men and women. Anyone risks getting HIV by having unprotected sex, sharing drug needles or having HIV-infected blood contact their own blood or open wounds. HIV-positive women can infect their babies through breast-feeding.

  • The Myth

    You can use bleach after having unprotected sex to prevent HIV infection.

    The Reality

    Washing the genitals or douching with bleach is dangerous and doesn't prevent HIV infection after having unprotected sex.

  • The Myth

    You can't have two STDs at once, including HIV.

    The Reality

    You can have multiple STDs at a time. If you have just one other untreated STD, you are 10 times more likely to have HIV. Your chances are greater if you have genital warts, lesions or ulcers like those you can get with syphilis or herpes.

  • The Myth

    If you have sex in a pool, you won't get pregnant or infected with HIV because the chlorine kills sperm and viruses.

    The Reality

    You can become pregnant or contract HIV while having sex in a pool.

  • The Myth

    You can get HIV from public toilets and by holding hands, hugging, or sharing food or drink with infected people.

    The Reality

    You can't. Sweat, tears and saliva have never been shown to spread HIV. It is spread through contact with infected body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk.

  • The Myth

    You can tell whether people have HIV based on their appearance.

    The Reality

    It's impossible to tell whether people have HIV by looking at them. HIV and AIDS don't have any telltale symptoms. With new and better medication, people who have HIV and AIDS can look as healthy as you.